Board Game Hot Takes

In Episode 174 we provide our hot take review of Dune: Imperium - Uprising covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on the quantity of published board games and then we discuss some board games on our table including Clank! Legacy Acquisitions Incorporated, Inis, Exit Advent Calendar: The Mystery of the Ice Cave, and The Quest for El Dorado. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:24 Poll: What do you think about the amount of hobby board games that are being published each year? 13:28 Dune: Imperium - Uprising 14:21 Gameplay and Mechanisms 33:05 Production and Theme 40:06 Final Thoughts 45:25 Clank! Legacy Acquisitions Incorporated 47:21 Inis 53:03 Exit The Game Advent Calendar: The Mystery of the Ice Cave 57:59 The Quest for El Dorado

In episode 173, we answer listeners questions in our first ever mailbag episode. Then we discuss some games that have been on our table including Ark Nova: Marine Worlds, Planet Unknown, Azul, and Agricola. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:52 What games or mechanisms have we switched our opinion on? 08:16 What are our thoughts on updated versions or sequels to games? 21:09 What are some of our other hobbies and do they tie back to board games? 26:21 If we could retheme a game, what would it be? 34:21 What makes a good rules teacher or teach? 42:53 What do we think of Tabletop Simulator vs. Board Game Arena 50:37 Planet Unkown 55:59 Ark Nova: Marine Worlds 1:03:14 Azul 1:04:55 Agricola 1:09:15 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 172 Tim discusses his 5 days spent at BGG Con 2023 including tips about attending a con, con experiences and many games played. We also discuss a poll about favorite gaming experiences. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:54 Poll Question: If you've ever attended a board game convention, what was your favorite part? 20:04 Sea Salt & Paper 21:22 Matryoshka 23:42 Evacuation 32:00 Voidfall 39:54 Nucleum 44:04 Dune: Imperium w/ Rise of Ix and Immortality 45:51 Fun Facts 48:51 Word Slam Family 49:38 Challengers! 51:06 Outlive 52:03 Summoner Wars 54:25 Age of Innovation 55:50 Ricochet Robots 58:25 Letter Jam 1:01:33 Federation 1:03:39 Clank! Catacombs 1:05:09 Scythe 1:09:34 Arboretum 1:12:10 Kutna Hora: The City of Silver 1:17:30 BGG Con Final Thoughts 1:25:20 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 171 we conclude our series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In this fourth part we talk about games that have a great conclusion. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:25 Board Games as Stories - conclusion 04:20 Lacrimosa 06:40 Keyflower 10:29 Star Wars: Rebellion 14: 30 Paperback Adventures 18:49 Charterstone 24:36 Dune 28:42 Everdell 30:35 Scythe 32:15 Cascadia 36:58 Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization 41:22 Frosthaven 45:58 Return to Dark Tower 49:15 Shamans 53:07 Fantasy Realms 58:00 Tapestry 62:52 Dune: Imperium 1:05:45 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 170 we provide our hot take review of Age of Innovation covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. We discuss a poll on gaming with your partner/spouse and then we discuss some board games on our table including Trekking Through History, Marvel Champions, and Heat: Pedal to the Metal. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:26 Poll: Is your partner/spouse part of your regular gaming group 09:30 Age of Innovation Description 10:44 Gameplay and Mechanisms 31:06 Production and Theme 38:18 Final Thoughts 43:19 Trekking Through History 49:37 Marvel Champions 55:31 Heat: Pedal to the Metal 58:49 Listener Shout-out

In Episode 169 we continue our series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In this third part we talk about games that have a great climax. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:08 Board Games as Stories - Climax08:15 Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar11:55 Baseball Highlights 204515:38 Blood Rage18:10 Rising Sun21:10 Wonderland's War23:53 Can't Stop25:40 My Father's Work29:59 Sol: Last Days of a Star32:33 Clank!36:46 Heat: Petal to the Metal, Downforce41:18 Dune: Imperium45:11 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy47:50 Cryo53:03 Pax Pamir: Second Edition 57:18 Scythe 1:01:33 Final Thoughts (Cthulhu: Death May Die, Frosthaven, Gloomhaven, Arkham Horror: The Card Game, Dune, Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy, Star Realms, Shards of Infinity, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game)1:06:14 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 168 we look at some recommended tips for game night etiquette and discuss whether those work for us. We also re-visit the Castles of Burgundy and discuss how some games make it hard to revisit them and then we look at some games that have been on our table including Oath: Chronicles of Empires and Exile, Challengers, Pulsar 2849, and The White Castle. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:35 Poll Question: Skipping Game Night Based on the Game09:11 Board Game Etiquette Discussion31:30 The Castles of Burgundy Double Take44:02 Oath: Chronicles of Empires and Exile53:59 Challengers57:12 Pulsar 28491:01:09 The White Castle

In Episode 167 we continue our series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In this second part we talk about games that do the 'build-up' or development well. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction03:38 Board Games as Stories12:27 Pan Am16:56 Space Base22:38 Auztralia25:52 Anachrony28:43 Brass: Birmingham31:56 Final Girl35:43 Marrakesh38:41 Ankh: Gods of Egypt42:33 Star Wars: Rebellion45:55 Revive50:20 Hegemony: Lead Your Class To Victory54:56 Root58:55 Orleans1:02:31 Final Thoughts (Spirit Island, Smartphone, Inc., Nemesis, Terraforming Mars, Lost Ruins of Arnak)1:05:56 Listener Shoutout

In Episode 166 we provide our hot take review of Nucleum covering the mechanisms, the production, and our overall feelings of the game. Then we discuss some board games on our table including the Viticulture Wine Crate, Tacocat Spelled Backwards, and Vagrantsong. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:56 Nucleum Description04:38 Gameplay and Mechanisms22:40 Production and Theme28:14 Final Thoughts31:00 Viticulture Wine Crate (Review Copy provided by the Publisher)36:20 Tacocat Spelled Backwards42:53 Vagrantsong49:58 Listener Shout-out

In Episode 165 we kickoff a series about how board games can use the same structure as a story and give you a similar arc. In the first part we talk about games that do the 'Intro' well. Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:21 Board Games as Stories06:33 Cthulhu: Death May Die10:17 Inis15:25 Agricola18:25 Distilled22:28 Battle for Rokugan26:08 Res Arcana29:54 Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon33:59 Azul39:57 Voidfall44:56 Obsession49:43 Spades (and Hearts)53:41 Terraforming Mars56:40 Nemesis1:02:24 Barrage1:05:22 Gaia Project1:08:50 Listener Shoutout